Security Settings - Wireless

This is a discussion on Security Settings - Wireless ; Hello, I have just set up my new Westell Gateway modem/router. When I select
security type, it gives me a choice for WPA (any) or WPA. Then for
encryption I have a choice of TKIP or AES. I am not ...

Security Settings

Hello, I have just set up my new Westell Gateway modem/router. When I select
security type, it gives me a choice for WPA (any) or WPA. Then for
encryption I have a choice of TKIP or AES. I am not sure what two to select.
For now they are set at WPA and TKIP as default settings. I would appreciate
it if someone could let me know what settings are the best for wireless
security. By the way, my desk top is a Dell running XP and my laptop is a
Toshiba running Vista Home Premium 32 bit. Thanks in advance. Bill

Re: Security Settings

"Bill T." wrote in message
news:uWPKz0vWIHA.4140@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> Hello, I have just set up my new Westell Gateway modem/router. When I
> select security type, it gives me a choice for WPA (any) or WPA. Then for
> encryption I have a choice of TKIP or AES. I am not sure what two to
> select. For now they are set at WPA and TKIP as default settings. I would
> appreciate it if someone could let me know what settings are the best for
> wireless security. By the way, my desk top is a Dell running XP and my
> laptop is a Toshiba running Vista Home Premium 32 bit. Thanks in advance.
> Bill
Aren't TKIP and AES just two encryption modes for WPA?
If I remember correctly, the more secure setting would be WPA-AES (unless
you have WPA2 as a choice).
Jim

Re: Security Settings

Hi
If your card and Wireless Router can do WPA-AES use it.
From the weakest to the strongest, Wireless security capacity is.
No Security
MAC______(Band Aid if nothing else is available).
WEP64____(Easy, to "Brake" by knowledgeable people).
WEP128___(A little Harder, but "Hackable" too).
WPA-PSK__(Very Hard to Brake ).
WPA-AES__(Not functionally Breakable)
WPA2____ (Not functionally Breakable).
Note 1: WPA-AES the the current entry level rendition of WPA2.
Note 2: If you use WinXP and did not updated it you would have to download
the WPA2 patch from Microsoft.
The documentation of your Wireless devices (Wireless Router, and Wireless
Computer's Card) should state the type of security that is available with
your Wireless hardware.
All devices MUST be set to the same security level using the same pass
phrase.
Therefore the security must be set according what ever is the best possible
of one of the Wireless devices.
I.e. even if most of your system might be capable to be configured to the
max. with WPA2, but one device is only capable to be configured to max . of
WEP, to whole system must be configured to WEP.
If you need more good security and one device (like a Wireless card that can
do WEP only) is holding better security for the whole Network, replace the
device with a better one.
Setting Wireless Security -
The Core differences between WEP, WPA, and WPA2 -
Jack (MVP-Networking).

"Bill T." wrote in message
news:uWPKz0vWIHA.4140@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> Hello, I have just set up my new Westell Gateway modem/router. When I
> select security type, it gives me a choice for WPA (any) or WPA. Then for
> encryption I have a choice of TKIP or AES. I am not sure what two to
> select. For now they are set at WPA and TKIP as default settings. I would
> appreciate it if someone could let me know what settings are the best for
> wireless security. By the way, my desk top is a Dell running XP and my
> laptop is a Toshiba running Vista Home Premium 32 bit. Thanks in advance.
> Bill

Re: Security Settings

On Sat, 19 Jan 2008 21:07:43 -0600, "Jim" wrote:
>Aren't TKIP and AES just two encryption modes for WPA?
>If I remember correctly, the more secure setting would be WPA-AES (unless
>you have WPA2 as a choice).

That's correct.

AES is the more secure because it's based on the rc5 block cipher but
requires different hardware than was used on early WEP enabled
devices.

TKIP is based on the RC4 stream cipher and isn't as secure as AES but
can be run on the same hardware as WEP and so could be released as a
software only upgrade to WEP without the need to buy new hardware.

The network will only be as secure as its weakest link. In the OP's
case everything can handle AES so that is the one which should be
used.

In either case a passphrase of 20+ characters is recommended.

Jim.

Re: Security Settings

Thank you all for your advice, it was very helpful. I will set it
accordingly.

"Bill T." wrote in message
news:uWPKz0vWIHA.4140@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> Hello, I have just set up my new Westell Gateway modem/router. When I
> select security type, it gives me a choice for WPA (any) or WPA. Then for
> encryption I have a choice of TKIP or AES. I am not sure what two to
> select. For now they are set at WPA and TKIP as default settings. I would
> appreciate it if someone could let me know what settings are the best for
> wireless security. By the way, my desk top is a Dell running XP and my
> laptop is a Toshiba running Vista Home Premium 32 bit. Thanks in advance.
> Bill